“Akamaru! Bite those two idiots to death!”
Having been pushed to his limits, Kiba finally exploded in anger. He grabbed Akamaru from atop his head and threw him like a projectile.
However, used to throwing shuriken and kunai, Kiba misjudged Akamaru’s weight and strength. Snowflakes and Hinata could only watch as the little white dog arced gracefully through the air…
“Arf—”
Akamaru yelped in terror, not fully awake from his nap, and found himself flung through the air. Before he knew it, a firm hand gripped his throat, and he could only whimper as it tightened, his little face turning red.
“Where did this clueless dog come from?”
A mocking voice drew the trio’s attention. Kiba, seeing Akamaru in such a pitiful state, was instantly furious. Clenching his fists, he shouted, “You fat bastard, let go of him!”
Even Yukigetsu and Hinata frowned. Despite their frequent bickering, it was a part of their team dynamic. After months of camaraderie, there was naturally some affection, especially towards the cute little dog now in trouble.
Yukigetsu narrowed his eyes at the culprit, a boy with his face painted in strange patterns. He held Akamaru aloft, a contemptuous smile on his lips.
Ignoring the paint on the boy’s face, Yukigetsu focused on his cloak—a traditional puppet master’s cat-ear cloak. Yet Konoha was not known for having puppet masters. Where had this guy come from? Next to him stood a girl with a giant fan on her back, her hair styled into four pineapples. It reminded Yukigetsu of Shikamaru’s spiky hair.
The boy with the face paint looked at them indifferently, his eyes full of disdain. “Hmph… just Konoha Genin!”
“Stop causing trouble,” the girl with the fan said, hands on her hips.
Akamaru struggled and whimpered, “Arf… arf…”
But the boy only tightened his grip, “I just want to have some fun before that annoying guy gets here!”
“You bastard!”
Kiba couldn’t hold back any longer and charged at him!
Bang!
But before he could get close, his right foot slipped, and he fell flat on his face!
“Ahhh!” Kiba got up, enraged, “What just happened?”
Yukigetsu’s eyes narrowed. In that split second, he saw it clearly—a chakra string had tripped Kiba, causing him to lose balance. So, this painted-face guy was indeed a puppet master!
Meanwhile, Hinata whispered to Yukigetsu, “They’re not from this country, right? Why are they here?”
Yukigetsu shook his head, about to respond, when Kiba shouted angrily, “Let him go, you big black pig! Or I won’t let you off! Stupid pig! Idiot!”
The curses kept coming, and Yukigetsu could only think… Nice aggro management a strong taunting ability, Kiba!
“You’re so annoying…”
The boy in the cat-ear cloak lowered his head, his voice darkening, “I hate noisy people the most… I really want to kill you! Konoha Genin are too weak!”
The girl with the fan sighed helplessly, looking up at the sky, “Whatever, do what you want…”
Yukigetsu’s eyes narrowed further. These two were incredibly arrogant, treating them like lambs to the slaughter.
“You bastard!” Kiba roared, charging again, but a figure flashed past him this time…
Swoosh… Bang!
“Ahhh!” The painted-face boy screamed.
Everyone was startled to see the cloaked boy pinned against the wooden wall by a long, slender hand gripping his throat. Standing before him was the quiet boy in the windbreaker, Yukigetsu, who looked expressionlessly at the fan girl and said, “You’re too bold, causing trouble in someone else’s village!”
How… how could this be… He subdued Kankuro in an instant, without anyone seeing the move!
The girl with the four golden pineapples broke into a cold sweat. She hadn’t expected the quiet boy to be so strong. This speed… it’s almost on par with Gaara!
“Y-you bastard!”
Kankuro’s face turned red, but as he tried to move, Yukigetsu’s eyes flashed dangerously, his voice cold, “Don’t move… or I’ll kill you.”
Kankuro felt the paint on his face stiffen because he sensed real killing intent, just like Gaara’s! This guy would really kill him!
Meanwhile, Kiba crouched before the now-free Akamaru, “Are you okay?”
Akamaru, with drooping ears, whined softly, “Arf…”
Kiba’s face darkened, “What do you mean?”
“Arf…” Akamaru’s whine was even more sorrowful.
Kiba’s face twitched, clearly understanding Akamaru’s thoughts: Master… you’re terrible! I trusted you!
Kiba petted Akamaru’s head comfortingly, “Dummy! I can take care of that guy easily!”
But Akamaru turned his head disdainfully.
Kiba growled inwardly: Damn it! Yukigetsu stole the spotlight again!
“Hmph!”
Yukigetsu snorted, tossing Kankuro to Temari’s feet, “Get lost!”
“That was a sneak attack! I can’t stand such arrogance…” Kankuro grumbled as he stood, taking a bandaged object from his back.
Temari frowned behind him, “Hey! You’re not planning to use the Crow, are you?”
Yukigetsu glanced at it indifferently. If he was right, that was a puppet. To deal with a puppet master, you attack the master directly. With his speed, the guy wouldn’t have a chance to escape…
“Stop it! Kankuro!”
Just as the paint-faced boy’s expression turned fierce, a cold voice came from the trees. Unlike Yukigetsu’s calm tone, this voice was chilling to the soul: “Don’t disgrace me here…”
Everyone was shocked to see a figure hanging upside down from a branch. He had short, deep red hair, pale blue eyes with dark circles, and the kanji for “Love” etched on his forehead. The most notable thing was the large tan gourd on his back.
Hinata tugged Yukigetsu’s sleeve, whispering, “He’s so fast, I… I didn’t see him…”
Yukigetsu gently squeezed her hand, nodding, “Indeed… very fast! Faster than I was before!”
The once arrogant Kankuro was now drenched in sweat, trembling all over, a stark contrast to his earlier self. “Ga-Gaara…”
“Getting lost in a minor conflict is the most shameful…” Gaara said, arms crossed and face expressionless. “Do you remember why we came here?”
Kankuro, with a pale face, flailed his arms comically, “Let me explain… Gaara… they started it…”
This involuntary fear piqued Yukigetsu’s interest. His companions were instinctively afraid of him.
Gaara’s expression turned icy, “Shut up! Or I’ll kill you!”
Kankuro’s face twisted in panic, “S-sorry… it’s my fault… sorry… really sorry…”
—
This guy… those big dark circles… he looks like a panda! But his strength is formidable. That killing intent is similar to mine… He’s killed many people… this kid…—Yukigetsu—
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